Centralized handled bicycle fork anchor

ABSTRACT

A mechanism for releasably fixing a bicycle&#39;s fork upon a support such as a vehicular load carrier or a storage mount. The mechanism includes a pair of skewers (123) that are at least partially received within a bicycle fork anchor (100) and the skewers (123) are movable one skewer (125) relative to the other skewer (130). The pair of skewers (123) are configured for fixing a bicycle&#39;s fork to the anchor (100). Each skewer (125,130) of the pair (123) is operable between a bicycle fork pre-pinched position and a bicycle fork pinch-secured position. Each skewer (125) of the skewer pair (123) is longitudinally aligned with the other skewer pair (130) and the skewers (125,130) are spaced apart from one another in at least one of the two positions. At least one handle (110) is coupled to the bicycle fork anchor (100) for operating at least one skewer (125,130) of the skewer pair (123) between the bicycle fork pre-pinched position and the bicycle fork pinch-secured position. A single handle (110) may be located between fork prong receiving portions (136) of the skewer pair (123) so that the handle (110) operates exclusively within a space between the distal ends (129,134) of the skewer pair (123).

RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

This patent application claims priority to U.S. Provisional ApplicationNo. 60/028,939 filed Oct. 21, 1996 entitled "CENTRALIZED HANDLED BICYCLEFORK ANCHOR."

DESCRIPTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to securement means between articles ofsports equipment and the racks or load carrier systems upon which thosearticles may be supported. More particularly, this invention relates toanchor means for securing the pronged end of a bicycle fork to a loadcarrying structure.

2. Background Art

The use of sports equipment in today's health conscious and outdooractivity inclined society is becoming evermore prevalent. In that manyof the users of sports equipment reside in urban areas and must travelto distantly located areas to find the rural environment within whichthey most enjoy using the equipment, means have been developed forcarrying their sports equipment upon vehicles. Examples of sportsequipment transported directly upon a vehicle include small-sized boatssuch as kayaks. Snow skis, snow boards and other associated equipmentare also transported on passenger vehicles to ski areas. Another commonpiece of sports equipment, and one with which the present invention isprimarily associated, is bicycles. Traditionally, bicycles have been ofrather standard and uniform construction and were used primarily as amode of transportation. The construction of bicycles, as well as theirintended environments for use have evolved substantially. It is nowcommon for a rider to purchase a specific style and structured bicycledepending upon his or her primary intended riding purpose. One style issuited for leisure riding. An entirely differently structured bicyclewill be purchased for racing purposes. Still further, and of more recentdevelopment are the more sturdily constructed bicycles commonly known as"mountain bikes". The intended environment for their use is implied inthe name; that is, on rough mountainous terrain and in otherenvironments having similar obstacles that must be negotiated. As aresult, mountain bikes have found utility not only in the intendednatural environments where a rider may be traversing rocky terrain, butriders have also found particular utility for mountain styled bicyclesin urban settings where curbs, steps and ramps may be traversed.

Because of the increased popularity in bicycling, a commensurateincrease in need for transporting the same has occurred. Not only areindividual users and families of users purchasing and keeping morebicycles, but an increased rental market for bicycles has alsodeveloped. As a result, not only are there more bicycles requiringtransport, but there are more bicycles requiring transport together atthe same time. This has necessitated advancements in recreationalload-carrier systems to better satisfy this need.

Well known systems for transporting bicycles are incorporated on bothrear ends of vehicles and top sides of passenger compartments. Onedeficiency in current designs has been experienced because of theproliferation of bicycles and the need to carry more at one time. Thishas been compounded by the increased size of critical componentsaffecting the load factor of bicycles on a given carrier system. Anexample may be found in mountain bikes having extended handle barsintended to increase leverage capabilities in climbing situationsthereby enabling a rider to impart greater power to the drive wheels onsharp inclines. As a result of these extended length handle bars, fewerbicycles can be placed on a given load carrier in side-by-siderelationship.

It is also more common now for users to have multiple bicycles that heor she rides at different times. As such, because of differingconstruction between the several bicycles, it is usual for the widths orthicknesses of the fork drop-outs or prongs on each bicycle to vary. Forinstance, the width of the drop-out on a racing bicycle will typicallybe significantly more narrow than a more sturdy drop-out of the mountainbike. It is not unlikely, however, for an individual bicycle enthusiastto own both a racing and a mountain bike. It is also logical and equallyas common for that user to desire to use the same carrier for bothbikes. For these reasons, it has been recognized as desirable to have afork anchor mechanism capable of variable clamping widths, both withrespect to overall width of the fork and as to between the two prongs ofa particular fork.

Still further, design criteria for particularly the mountain bike hasaltered the basic design of the bicycle fork system. Because of thehigher stresses experienced in a mountain bike's support structure whentraversing rugged terrain, certain structural components such as thefork extensions have been made larger and more sturdy. An increase insize has also resulted from the manufacture of such fork components frommaterials that are more yielding and serve a shock absorbing function.Similarly, gas filled shocks and other cushioning type components havebeen incorporated therein for providing a smoother and more plush rideto the user. All of these enhancements have increased the size andlength of the forks to an extent that in many cases the front wheel ofthe bicycle may no longer be attached at a lowermost distal end of aconventionally constructed fork component. As a result, extensions offof the primary fork structure have been provided for the fork drop outsor prongs that permit their relative vertical location to be higher thanat the lowermost end of the complete fork structure. Consequently, thesedownwardly extending portions intrude into known fork anchor lockdesigns and prevent proper operation of the handle for tightening andlocking a bicycle to the anchor.

Present fork anchor designs employ a single skewer to which both prongsof a bicycle's fork are fixed. Typically, the skewer is held looselywithin a base or housing and permitted to move freely from side to sideuntil the bicycle fork is successfully placed thereupon with one prongon each end of the skewer at opposite exterior sides of the base. Attimes, the user of such an anchor experiences frustration during theloading process of the bicycle upon the anchor. It is not unusual forthe carrier upon which the fork anchor is incorporated to be locatedabove a vehicle's passenger compartment. In these cases, the loadingprocess of the bicycle which requires it to be raised high into the aircan be unwieldy and difficult to control. This often results in one ofthe bicycle prongs striking one end of the skewer and knocking theskewer to one side of the base so that the prong receiving portion ofthe skewer that was struck by the prong is then hidden within the baseand an unduly long portion of the skewer extends from the opposite sideof the base. This becomes frustrating because the user may not be ableto handle the raised bicycle with a single hand, freeing the other toreposition the skewer so that both ends are once again exposed on eitherside of the base and ready to receive both prongs of the fork.

In view of the above described deficiencies associated with the use ofknown fork block or anchor systems, the present invention has beendeveloped to alleviate these drawbacks and provide further benefits tothe user. These enhancements and benefits are described in greaterdetail hereinbelow with respect to several alternative embodiments ofthe present invention.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention in its several disclosed embodiments alleviatesthe drawbacks described above with respect to conventional fork blockdevices and incorporates several additionally beneficial features. Ofthree important enhancements incorporated into the present invention,the first is a centralized actuation means in the form of a handlelocated between the fork engaging portions of the pinch-securing meansof the fork anchor, and in turn, also between the fork of a bicyclesecured thereto. The second feature is the incorporation of a means forpermitting translation or predominantly rotational movement of the forkanchor substantially within a horizontal plane. The third feature is theinclusion of a design for the skewer assembly that causes each of thetwo ends of the skewer exposed outside of the anchor base to be biasedoutwardly into an extended position until purposefully contractedinwardly into a securing orientation. This facilitates the loading of abicycle upon the fork anchor, even when the skewer is inadvertentlystruck by a fork prong during the loading process because the forkengaging portion of the skewers retains or regains an exposed positionoutside of the anchor's housing.

The accommodation of differently sized forks and prongs is permittedthrough the independent and separate construction of a pair of skewers,one skewer on each side of the fork anchor. Because each skewer isseparate from the other, one can be contracted to a greater degree thanthe other thereby accommodating variations in the thicknesses of thefork prongs or dropouts that must install over the shank of the skewerat the bicycle fork prong receiver portion when anchored thereto.Independent contraction capabilities combine with a floating feature ofthe skewer carrying assembly so that not only may variable widths of thefork prong be accommodated, but the imposition of similar pinchpressures may be exerted on each of the prongs. A slight clearance orgap space is provided in the contraction and expansion mechanism'sassembly that facilitates the floating feature and accommodates slightwidth differences between the two different fork prongs of a bicyclethat may result from manufacturing tolerances or uneven wear by as muchas one millimeter. In the illustrated embodiment, this gap space is aclearance space provided between the handle and the base within whichthe handle is pivotably connected.

By adding a biasing member or extension mechanism such as a coil springbetween the two skewers, each skewer is urged to an extended positionuntil purposefully contracted into a securing orientation. The magnitudeof the outward pressure exerted upon the skewers is such that each willbe urged to an extended position, but that pressure is easily overcomeby the contracting mechanism that moves the skewers into the forksecuring orientation. This same feature of balancing the extendinglengths of the skewer assembly on either side of the anchor's base mayalso be affected with a single, unified skewer. In such a configuration,a biasing member may be coupled to the skewer and that member applies abalancing force that urges or keeps the skewer in a substantiallycentered orientation with respect to the anchor's base.

Still further, in at least one embodiment, a pressure sensitive actuatoris included that limits the force that may be input into the skewercontracting system so that too great a pinching force that could resultin damage to the fork prongs is preventable.

As described above, one of the most obvious and notable developmentsincorporated into the present invention is the location of the actuationhandle between the fork engaging portions of the two skewers, andresultingly between the bicycle fork prongs. This operational area forthe handle may be most advantageously utilized because it is a clearancespace that is inherent in the bicycle's construction. That is to say,the space between the prongs remains free of structural components ofthe bicycle because the rotating front wheel is interposed therein whenthe bicycle is being used and that wheel must be allowed to operatefreely therein without interference. Therefore, during transport orstorage of the bicycle with the front wheel removed, this space willstill be vacant and serves as a prime location for a centralized handleor actuator of a bicycle fork anchor assembly. Still further, themovement of this actuating handle may also be confined to thisintermediate space where it is free from impedance when moved betweenclosed and opened orientations corresponding to pre-pinched andpinch-secured positions of the skewers.

The enhanced nature of this design may be best appreciated with respectto the modified forks of a mountain bike that have an extension off ofthe primary fork column for carrying the fork prongs at a distancetherefrom and at a height greater than the lowermost portion of the forkcolumns. This lower portion of the fork column projects downwardlyfarther than the fork prongs. This structure is incompatible with ananchor having a side positioned handle that matingly engages the base ofthe fork anchor and optionally locks thereto. The extended portion ofthe fork column occupies the same space intended for the closed sidehandle thus rendering such an anchor design inoperable. Thesedetrimental effects are remedied by the present invention where thehandle is located in the always clear space between the two prongs ofthe bicycle fork.

As described hereinabove, it is common for handle bars, especially ofmountain bikes to be extended thereby increasing the bicycle's overallwidth. On load carriers where bicycles are positioned side-by-side andadjacent to one another, this can prove limiting because of the fixedwidth of the transporting carrier. This effect is primarily attributableto the fact that in conventional bicycle fork anchors, the anchor ispermanently configured so that the handle bars are orientedsubstantially perpendicularly to the bicycle's length and frame. Thepresent invention very simply alleviates this problem by optionallyincluding a swivel, a vertical post pivot, or a translation/rotationtable at the fork anchor base so that the portion of the anchor to whichthe skewer is connected may be angularly oriented or turned with respectto the lengthwise orientation of the balance of the bicycle's frame. Byso orienting the forks, the handle bars are similarly angled and theoverall width of the bicycle is dramatically decreased therebyfacilitating the side-by-side positioning of a greater number ofbicycles upon the same narrow carrier width. This reduction in width canbe substantial when considering that as much as three or four inches maybe added to a mountain bike's handle bar's length. The angle at whichthe fork anchor portion may be angled to the lateral centerline of thecarrier is contemplated to be as much as forty degrees, or more. Notonly does this permit a greater number of bicycles to be installed upona fixed width carrier, but other equipment may also be added to thecarrier for simultaneous transport in view of the reduced effectivewidth of each bicycle resulting from cocking the forks and handle barsto the side.

The beneficial effects described above apply generally to each of theexemplary devices and mechanisms disclosed herein of the bicycle forkanchor. The specific structures through which these benefits aredelivered will be described in detail hereinbelow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the bicycle fork anchor with theactuating handle in an open position corresponding to an expandedorientation of the skewer pair.

FIG. 2 is an exploded assembly drawing of the contracting mechanismshown in partial cross section.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing the bicycle fork anchor mounted upon arotatable swivel and connected to a load carrier's cross-member.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a cam piece illustrating the dual lobedand balanced cam surfaces.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the interiorly threaded and exteriorlysplined insert cylinder that is translatable within the rotatableadjustment wheel.

FIG. 6 is a perspective end view of the rotatable wheel showing theinteriorly splined receiving space for the matingly engagablecylindrical insert.

MODE(S) FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosedherein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodimentsare merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in variousand alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale, somefeatures may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particularcomponents. Therefore, specific structural and functional detailsdisclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as abasis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching oneskilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.

Furthermore, elements may be recited as being "coupled"; thisterminology's use contemplates elements being connected together in sucha way that there may be other components interstitially located betweenthe specified elements, and that the elements so specified may beconnected in fixed or movable relation one to the other. Certaincomponents may be described as being "adjacent" to one another. In theseinstances, it is expected that a relationship so characterized shall beinterpreted to mean that the components are located proximate to oneanother, but not necessarily in contact with each other. Normally therewill be an absence of other components positioned therebetween, but thisis not a requirement. Still further, some structural relationships ororientations may be designated with the word "substantially". In thosecases, it is meant that the relationship or orientation is as described,with allowances for variations that do not effect the cooperation of theso described component or components.

The present invention comprises a mechanism for releasably fixing abicycle's fork upon a support such as a vehicular load carrier or astorage mount. In one embodiment, the mechanism includes a pair ofskewers 123 that are at least partially received within a bicycle forkanchor 100 and the skewers 123 are movable one skewer 125 relative tothe other skewer 130. The pair of skewers 123 are configured for fixinga bicycle's fork to the anchor 100. Each skewer 125,130 of the pair 123is operable between a bicycle fork pre-pinched position and a bicyclefork pinch-secured position. Each skewer 125,130 of the skewer pair 123is longitudinally aligned with the other of the skewers 125,130 and theskewers 125,130 are spaced apart from one another in at least one of thetwo positions. At least one handle 110 is coupled to the bicycle forkanchor 100 for operating at least one skewer 125,130 of the skewer pair123 between the bicycle fork pre-pinched position and the bicycle forkpinch-secured position. The handle 110 is located between fork prongreceiving portions 136 of the skewer pair 123 so that the handle 110operates exclusively within a space between those receiving portions 136and resultingly between the forks of a bicycle mounted thereupon. Thepaired skewers 123 is an exemplary configuration of a skewer assembly122. Such an assembly further contemplates the utilization of a singleshaft skewer upon which both fork prong receiving portions 136 arelocated.

Referring to the Figures, a centralized handled bicycle fork anchor 100has a base 102 with an anchorable bottom base portion 155 and an upperportion configured to engage the fork of a bicycle to be mountedthereto. The base 102 carries a frame 105 upon which the severalcomponents of the anchor 100 are coupled together. In the illustratedembodiment, a centralized handle 110 is operatively coupled to a skewercontracting and expanding mechanism 135. The paired configuration ofaxially aligned skewers 125 and 130 is controlled by the contracting andexpanding mechanism 135 to affect an anchoring procedure wherein theprongs of a bicycle fork are pinch-fixed or pinch-secured to the forkanchor 100. Each skewer 125,130 of the skewer pair 123 has a skewer head129,134 located oppositely to one another and at a distance fromexterior sides of the base 102 so that a fork prong receiving portion136 of each skewer 125,130 is exposed interiorly of the skewer heads129, 134.

A predominance of the working components of the fork anchor 100 are heldwithin an interior compartment 103 of a housing 120 that serves not onlyto protect and conceal the working parts, but also to present a moreaesthetically pleasing appearance to an observer. Also contained withinthe compartment 103 is a pre-load adjustment means 145 also referred toas an adjustment mechanism 145. The adjustment mechanism 145 is manuallyoperatable to establish a sufficiently snug fit of the skewer heads129,134 adjacent to outside surfaces of each fork prong so that thecontracting mechanism 135 for the paired skewers 123 may impart a fixingor securing pinch-force upon the respective fork prongs. The contractingmechanism 135 incorporates a compensating mechanism 160 foraccommodating variable widths between the two fork prongs of aparticular bicycle and for assuring that substantially equal pinchingforces are imparted to each prong.

The bicycle fork anchor 100 optionally incorporates a pivot mechanism oradjustable mounting 170 for permitting translation of the anchor 100 ina horizontal plane thereby providing a means for canting a securedbicycle's front wheel assembly and handle bars at an angle with respectto the rest of the bicycle's frame. An exemplary embodiment of such anadjustable mounting means includes a vertical post spindle 172 pivotallypositioned within a receiving aperture on the carrier or rack structure,within the anchor 100 or within a platform upon which the bicycle forkanchor 100 is mounted. The pivot post or spindle 172 may be coupled tothe anchorable bottom base portion 155 of the fork anchor 100. Theadjustability of the spindle 172 in its receiving aperture accommodatescontinuously variable positioning through a predetermined range. Stillfurther, discreet positions may be lockably established through variousfixing means. It may be that constrictors are installed about thespindle 172 that act as brakes and fix the spindle with respect to thecarrier. Alternative means for fixing the orientation may include peggedhole configurations and other similar and/or equivalent means. It iscontemplated that with individual and independent adjustment or pivotmeans provided for each bicycle fork through the anchor 100 that eachbicycle on a particular carrier may be similarly canted or individuallyoriented to suit and accommodate the other devices also mounted thereon.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an exemplary construction of the handle 110may be appreciated. The handle 110 has a continuous upper wall portionthat establishes a cover 109 to the interior compartment 103 when thehandle 110 is in a closed position. Side walls of the handle 110 extenddownwardly from the upper cover wall. Two cam surfaces are included atopposite locations upon interior faces of the side walls. Each camsurface has an aperture that serves as a center point therefore. Thehandle 110 is coupled to the bicycle fork anchor 100 by alignment of thecam surface's center point aperture with a pair of skewer accommodatingapertures extending through a side wall of the base 102 and insertion ofa skewer 125,130 through each aligned set of paired apertures.

A cam body 114 having a similarly configured cam surface is locatedinteriorly to each of the handle's 110 cam surfaces so that the two camsurfaces are oriented in a face-to-face configuration thereby formingtwo sets of paired and opposed cam surfaces 115. Each cam body 114 alsohas a center aperture through which a skewer 125,130 is inserted causingproper orientation of the opposed cam surfaces of each pair. Opposite tothe cam surface upon the cam body 114 is a pressing surface 116. Exceptfor one, each cam surface may have any number of cam lobes 117 as longas the number of lobes on opposing cam surfaces are equal. Butregardless of the number of lobes 117, the several lobes 117 are spacedangularly equidistantly about the center points. By this construction,when the two cam surfaces are rotated relative to one another about thecenter points, balanced compression forces are generated that aredirected outwardly in a direction parallel to a centerline passingthrough the center points. In the illustrated embodiment, thiscenterline is also coincident with the centerline of the skewers of theskewer assembly 122. Because the cam surfaces upon the handle 110 aresubstantially laterally fixed, relative rotation of the opposed camsurfaces 115 causes the pressing surfaces 116 of the cam bodies 144 tomove inwardly.

As the cam bodies 114 move inwardly, their pressing surfaces 116 engagea flanged pressing surface of an interiorly threaded insert cylinder112. The primary portion of the body of the insert 112 is cylindricallyshaped, but with splines or ridges aligned with a longitudinalcenterline of the insert 112. The exterior of this primary portion ofthe insert 112 is configured to be received into a grooved interiorhollow space of a rotatable wheel or wheels 146 located interiorlythereto. The complimentary configurations of the engaging surfaces ofthe insert 112 and the wheel 146 permit longitudinal or translationalrelative motion, but not rotational relative motion.

The skewers 125,130 have an exteriorly threaded end 126 that screwablyengages the interiorly threaded hub of the insert 112 carried within therotatable wheel 146. A mid-portion of each skewer 125,130 includes arecessed flat into which a key is insertable that prevents rotationalmovement of the skewer 125,130 relative to the bicycle fork anchor 100.Longitudinal movement of the skewer 125,130, however, is caused byrotation of the rotatable wheel assembly that includes the rotatablewheel 146 and the sliding insert 112 which ultimately acts on thethreads of the skewers 125,130. The ends of the recessed flat act asstops against an inserted key preventing unintentional removal of theskewers 125,130 from the bicycle fork anchor 100. At distal ends of theskewers 125,130 exterior to the base 102 of the bicycle fork anchor 100are located the skewer heads 129,134. A fork prong receiving portion 136is located between the outside skewer head 129,134 and the recessedflat. By this construction, different skewers 125,130 may be exchangedfor use in the bicycle fork anchor 100 by removing the inserted key andunscrewing the installed skewer from the threaded insert 112 andreinstalling a different skewer. This may be done to accommodatedifferently sized fork prongs or other variable characteristics, therebyproviding even greater versatility to the design of the presentinvention.

It is contemplated that one monolithic rotatable wheel 146 may beutilized to operate the paired skewers 123 and receive both inserts 112within a hollow interior thereof. In that case, the engaged threadsbetween the different skewers 125,130 must be oppositely threaded sothat rotation of the single wheel 146 in one direction causes oppositerelative motion in the two skewers 125,130. This opposition of threadingmay be accomplished either on the skewers 125,130 or within the inserts112. Optionally, two separable wheels 146 may be utilized, one engagableto each skewer 125,130. In this case, the two wheels 146 operateindependently and may be separately rotated to affect the appropriatemovement of the respective skewers 125,130. When two wheels 146 areused, however, a connector is provided for operatively joining thewheels 146 once the required independent adjustments have beenaccomplished. In either configuration, a biasing member or extensionmechanism 149, illustratively in the form of a compression spring 149,is provided within the rotatable wheel 146 between the inserts 112 forurging the skewers 125,130 toward an extended orientation.

The two wheel 146 configuration permits for the direct accommodation ofdifferently sized prongs on an individual bicycle fork. In the case of asingle wheel design, differences in thickness of the prongs isaccommodated by a resiliently filled gap space on each side of theadjustment mechanism 145 between adjacent components. In theillustration of FIG. 2, the gap space is provided between the wheel 146and the insert 112 and the space is filled with a high durometerelastomeric band 148. Alternatively, the band 148 may be interstitiallypositioned between the insert 112 and the cam body 116; what isimportant is that the elastomeric member 148 be located between twoadjacent components of the constricting mechanism 135 or the adjustmentmechanism 145 capable of some degree of axial relative movement one tothe other.

The skewer assembly 122 fits within the bicycle fork anchor 100 with aslight degree of play permitting the assembly 122 to move rightwardly orleftwardly in response to forces experienced as the adjustment mechanism145 is operated and a pre-load is applied to the bicycle prongs. As thewider prong is engaged upon contraction of the skewer heads 129,134, theadjusting mechanism 145 moves toward the more narrow prong and theelastomeric band 148 on the narrow prong side is compressed causing aphantom compensating thickness to be experienced that results in a moreeven pinch pressure being applied to each prong. Alternatively, the gapspace that permits sideward movement of the adjustment 145 andcontracting 135 mechanism may be provided between the handle 110 and theside wall of the base 102.

In practice, prior to applying the pinching force that fixes the forkprongs to the anchor 100, the prongs will be positioned on the extendedportions of the skewers 125,130 beyond exterior bearing projections 113off of the base 102. Tight fitting protective caps are placed over theprojections 113 for protection from bicycle forks being placed adjacentthereto and to conceal the ports through which the keys are insertedthat prevent rotation and the unintentional removal of the skewers125,130. These projections 113 have bearing surfaces that in a pinchedconfiguration are pressed tightly against interior sides of the forkprongs. On the opposite and exterior side of the prong is an interiorengaging surface of the skewer head 129,134 positioned adjacentlythereto. To prepare and configure the securing mechanism of the anchor100 after a bike has been installed upon the skewers 125,130, thepre-load adjustment wheel 146 is rotated until the skewer heads 129,134are adjacently positioned proximate to the exterior surfaces of the forkprongs.

After the skewer heads 129,134 have been appropriately positioned withrespect to the fork prongs and possibly pre-loaded, the handle 110 isactuated through an operational pivotal range so that a sufficientlystrong pinching force is applied to the fork prongs caused by therelative motion of the paired and opposed cam surfaces 115 to anchor thebicycle to the carrier.

The opposed cam surfaces are of variable inclines and angles so that athree tiered cam is established. A first portion of each opposed camsurface includes a relatively sharp angle or cant which provides rapidcontraction of the skewers 125,130 as each engaged cam surface pressesaway from the other. Because the cam surfaces opposite those connectedto the handle are coupled to one skewer 125,130 each, each skewer125,130 is drawn inwardly with its respective head 129,134 pressingtightly against a fork prong. In the second tier of the camming process,a power stroke is encountered wherein the cam surfaces are oriented atless of an angle and are capable of exerting substantially greaterinward pressure over a shorter distance with the skewer heads 129,134. Athird phase of the three tiered cam system includes opposing surfacesthat are effectively parallel to one another. In this compressedconfiguration, however, sufficient friction between the abutting camsurfaces prevents any backing off of the handle cam surfaces, even whensubjected to bounce and other disturbances. This last tier may beconsidered as being an over-center position and may be slightlynegative, if not flat or parallel. This last range is not only includedto provide a lock-down position, but also to provide the user adetectable indication that the appropriate securing pinch-fit has beenaccomplished. In this lock-down position, the handle 110 establishes thecover 109 to the interior compartment 103. A detent is also providedbetween the handle 110 and the base 102 of the bicycle fork anchor 100further insuring that the cover 109 will remain closed untilintentionally opened, even if not locked down.

The handle 110 may be accommodated with a lock 108 that may be used tosecure the handle 110 to the base 102 so that the fork prongs of thecarried bicycle may not be disengaged until intentionally done so by theowner. Alternatively and as illustrated, the base 102 includes a lockassembly receiver 107 into which a lock assembly 108 is insertable. Twolock assembly receivers 107 are positioned at forward locations clear ofthe working portions of the bicycle fork anchor 100. In this manner, alock assembly 108 may be inserted into either receiver 107 dependingupon which side is better exposed when the bicycle fork anchor isinstalled upon the support.

In the illustration of FIG. 3, the bicycle fork anchor 100 is shownmounted to a cross-bar of a roof mounted vehicular load carrier. Thelower plate extending about the underside of the cross-bar is configuredto accommodate both round and square shaped tubular bars. Optionally, aT-shaped insert is attachable to the bottom side of the base 102 andwhich is coupleable with bars having complimentary receivers.

Alternatively, the hollow rotatable wheel assembly within which theskewers 125,130 are threadedly carried is not controlled by a rotatablewheel 146, but instead incorporates a splined portion that is matinglyengageable with a wrench handle. An interior portion of the engaging endof the wrench handle is configured to mate with the exterior splines ofthe constricting mechanism so that sufficient force can be appliedthrough the wrench handle to appropriately contract the skewer headsinwardly to secure the fork prongs to the anchor base. The wrench styledhandle may be locked down to assure that the pinch-pressure is notreleased from the fork prongs. It should also be noted that smoothedportions of the splined member outboard to the splined mid-sectionpermit the member to free wheel within the wrench handle therebypermitting manual expansion and contraction when the mechanicallyimposed pinch force is not induced.

In still another embodiment, the driving force for the adjustmentmechanism and contracting mechanism is imparted by a ratchet mechanismcarried on a handle which engages a splined portion of the interiorlythreaded member. The pawl of the ratchet handle may be oriented tocontract or expand the skewer pair. As a further enhancement, preventionof over tightening of the contraction mechanism may be achieved byspring biasing the pawl so that when a pre-selected handle pressure isexperienced, the pawl will disengage from the splined cylinder and rideover the individual splines thereby preventing additional tightening.The orientation of the pawl may be oppositely rocked into an expandingposition so that action of the handle moves the skewer heads outwardly,thereby releasing the fork prongs.

A bicycle fork anchor and its components have been described herein.These and other variations, which will be appreciated by those skilledin the art, are within the intended scope of this invention as claimedbelow. As previously stated, detailed embodiments of the presentinvention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that thedisclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may beembodied in various forms.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention finds applicability in the industries that provideconnections for sport equipment articles to storage mounts and vehicularload carriers.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is asfollows:
 1. A mechanism for releasably fixing a bicycle's fork upon asupport, comprising:a pair of skewers at least partially received withina bicycle fork anchor and said skewers being movable one skewer relativeto the other, said pair of skewers configured for fixing a bicycle'sfork to said anchor; each skewer of said pair being operable between abicycle fork pre-pinched position and a bicycle fork pinch-securedposition; and at least one handle coupled to said bicycle fork anchorfor operating at least one skewer of said skewer pair between saidbicycle fork pre-pinched position and said bicycle fork pinch-securedposition.
 2. The mechanism as recited in claim 1, furthercomprising:each skewer of said skewer pair being longitudinally alignedwith the other skewer of said pair; and each skewer being spaced apartfrom the other in at least one of said bicycle fork pre-pinched positionand said bicycle fork pinch-secured position.
 3. The mechanism asrecited in claim 1, wherein each skewer of said skewer pair isindependently longitudinally movable relative to the other skewer ofsaid skewer pair.
 4. The mechanism as recited in claim 1, wherein asingle handle operates both of said skewers of said skewer pair betweensaid bicycle fork pre-pinched position and said bicycle forkpinch-secured position.
 5. The mechanism as recited in claim 1, whereinsaid at least one handle is located between fork prong receivingportions of said skewer pair.
 6. The mechanism as recited in claim 5,wherein said at least one handle is pivotably operable exclusivelybetween said fork prong receiving portions of said skewer pair.
 7. Themechanism as recited in claim 5, wherein said at least one handle is asingle handle and said single handle is substantially centered betweensaid fork prong receiving portions of said skewer pair.
 8. The mechanismas recited in claim 1, further comprising:a contracting mechanism fordrawing said skewers of said skewer pair toward one another.
 9. Themechanism as recited in claim 8, wherein said contracting mechanismcomprises:paired and opposed cam surfaces, said opposed cam surfacesoriented one to the other so that relative rotational movement betweensaid cam surfaces expands outer pressing surfaces wherein one pressingsurface is associated with each cam surface.
 10. The mechanism asrecited in claim 9, wherein each cam surface comprises:a plurality ofcam lobes substantially equiangularly spaced about a center point ofsaid cam surface so that relative rotational movement between paired camsurfaces about a centerline extending through said center point createsbalanced forces about and aligned with said centerline.
 11. Themechanism as recited in claim 9, wherein each cam surface comprises:aplurality of variously inclined portions, said variously inclinedportions establishing at least a rapid contraction stroke and a powercontraction stroke upon relative rotation of said cam surfaces.
 12. Themechanism as recited in claim 1, further comprising:each skewer of saidskewer pair having an exteriorly threaded end positioned at leastpartially within said bicycle fork anchor; at least one rotatable wheelassembly having an interiorly threaded hub; and at least one skewerbeing screwably engaged with said rotatable wheel assembly and saidskewer being longitudinally movable in response to rotation of saidrotatable wheel assembly.
 13. The mechanism as recited in claim 12,further comprising:a single wheel located between said skewers of saidskewer pair and said at least one rotatable wheel assembly having aright-handed interiorly threaded hub portion and a left-handedinteriorly threaded hub portion; and said skewers being threadedsimilarly one to the other and each skewer being screwably engaged withone of said interiorly threaded hub portions so that rotation of saidwheel in one direction contracts said skewers together and rotation ofsaid wheel in an opposite direction expands said skewers apart.
 14. Themechanism as recited in claim 1, further comprising:each skewer of saidskewer pair having an exteriorly threaded end positioned at leastpartially within said bicycle fork anchor; two rotatable wheelassemblies, each wheel assembly having an interiorly threaded hub; saidskewers being screwably engaged each to a different rotatable wheelassembly; and each skewer being longitudinally movable in response torotation of said rotatable wheel assembly to which said skewer isengaged.
 15. The mechanism as recited in claim 14, further comprising:aconnector for uniting said two rotatable wheel assemblies therebyestablishing a unified bicycle fork prong receiver having asubstantially straight longitudinal axis.
 16. The mechanism as recitedin claim 1, further comprising:said at least one handle forming a coverto an interior compartment of said bicycle fork anchor when said handleis in a closed position, said closed position corresponding to saidbicycle fork pinch-secured position.
 17. The mechanism as recited inclaim 16, further comprising:an adjustment mechanism for moving eachskewer of said skewer pair between said bicycle fork pre-pinchedposition and said bicycle fork pinch-secured position, said adjustmentmechanism being positioned within said interior compartment andtherefore concealable by said handle when said handle is in a closedposition.
 18. The mechanism as recited in claim 16, further comprising:alock for securing said handle in said closed position and therebypreventing unintentional disengagement of a bicycle's pinch-securedfork.
 19. The mechanism as recited in claim 1, further comprising:anadjustable mounting for permitting said bicycle fork anchor to be cantedwithin a substantially horizontal plane thereby turning the handle barsof a bicycle secured upon said bicycle fork anchor.
 20. A mechanism forreleasably fixing a bicycle's fork upon a vehicular load carrier,comprising:a bicycle fork anchor mounted upon a vehicular load carrier;a pair of skewers at least partially received within said bicycle forkanchor and said skewers being movable one skewer relative to the other,said pair of skewers configured for fixing the bicycle's fork to saidanchor; each skewer of said pair being operable between a bicycle forkpre-pinched position and a bicycle fork pinch-secured position; and atleast one handle coupled to said bicycle fork anchor for operating atleast one skewer of said skewer pair between said bicycle forkpre-pinched position and said bicycle fork pinch-secured position.
 21. Amechanism for releasably fixing a bicycle's fork upon a support,comprising:a skewer assembly at least partially received within abicycle fork anchor, said skewer assembly having two fork prongreceiving portions, each receiving portion being located exteriorly toopposite sides of said bicycle fork anchor, and said skewer assemblybeing configurable to secure the bicycle's fork to said anchor; and ahandle operably coupled to said bicycle fork anchor for operating saidskewer assembly between a bicycle fork pre-pinched position and abicycle fork pinch-secured position, said handle being located betweensaid fork prong receiving portions.
 22. A mechanism for releasablyfixing a bicycle's fork upon a support, comprising:a pair of skewers atleast partially received within a bicycle fork anchor and said skewersbeing movable one skewer relative to the other, said pair of skewersconfigured for fixing a bicycle's fork to said anchor; each skewer ofsaid pair being operable between a bicycle fork pre-pinched position anda bicycle fork pinch-secured position; and an extension mechanismengaged with at least one of said skewers for urging said at least oneof said skewers to an extended position wherein a fork prong receivingportion of said skewer is exposed outside of said bicycle fork anchor.23. The mechanism as recited in claim 22, further comprising:saidextension mechanism being engaged with both of said skewers for urgingeach skewer to an extended position wherein a fork prong receivingportion of each skewer is exposed outside of said bicycle fork anchor.24. The mechanism as recited in claim 22, wherein said extensionmechanism is a compression coil spring.
 25. The mechanism as recited inclaim 22, further comprising:at least one handle coupled to said bicyclefork anchor for operating at least one skewer of said skewer pairbetween said bicycle fork pre-pinched position and said bicycle forkpinch-secured position.
 26. The mechanism as recited in claim 22,further comprising:a contracting mechanism for drawing at least oneskewer head inwardly toward said bicycle fork anchor.